#i hit romance stage with every available companion in dao because i was giving my *friends* shinies

[trisscar368]

I know this is a small complaint but between the big games floating on my dash and the ones I’ve started playing recently, there’s something that’s just so [cat left outside on a cold day] when looking at the perception in others who love this thing, the heart of fandom, between a game’s storyline and the romantic subplots.

It ends up feeling like I’m missing half the game — like even though I complete every quest and find every secret I can — I’m left with something shallow and incomplete if I don’t engage in the romance storylines. Taking the options where you’re friends with your companions doesn’t seem to mean much beyond keeping that character around.

(I care, I love you, but you won’t share so much of your heart until I say Yes.)

Whatever resonance and immersion I had with my OC always withers and dies if I force myself through the romance/sex scenes. Instead of an avatar in a story it becomes something robotic, divorced and dissociated and disposable. It’s the same way I play an evil run — not caring about anything but ticking off boxes to get the achievement or points. Either I sacrifice my connection point with the story or I miss out on what draws everyone else back to replay and what sparks so much fannish creativity.

Haven’t I had enough of this from life without needing to face it in my fantasy too? Why can I only love one person. Why is sex the only way I can show it and have it matter.